Youth Protection Guidelines

Questions and Answers

What is child abuse?

Generally speaking, child abuse is injury of a child by an adult
or older child that might not be intentional, but is not accidental. It is usually
classified as physical abuse, emotional abuse, or sexual abuse. Harm caused
by withholding life's necessities - food clothing, shelter, medical care, education-is
called neglect.

How can I tell if a child has been abused?

Each child reacts to abuse differently. In physical abuse, injuries
to the child might be evident, but with any kind of abuse, children often give
only behavioral clues. You should be alert to changes in the child's behavior.
Any abrupt change in behavior that is maintained for a week or longer is a sign
that the child is experiencing stress that could stem from a variety of causes-including
child abuse. If you notice this kind of change in behavior, you should consider
seeking help for the child. Some of the specific signs for each kind of abuse
are listed below:

Physical Abuse

A child who has been physically abused might exhibit suspicious injuries.
These injuries are different from those normally associated with childhood "wear
and tear."

Burns. Burns that might indicate a child has been abused
include cigarette or cigar burns on the soles of the feet, the palms of the
hands, the back, or the genital areas. Other burns associated with abuse are
friction or tether burns on the wrists, ankles, or around
the neck caused by ropes used to tie the child. Wet burns on the hands
and feet that appear to be glove-like or sock-like are caused by forcing the
child to bathe in water that is too hot. Dry burns leave distinctive
marks in the shape of the instrument used to inflict them. Commonly, in child
abuse cased, these include electric irons, radiator grates, and stove burners.

Bruises. Bruises of different colors, indicating infliction
at different times and in different stages of healing, often indicate abuse.
This is particularly true if the bruises are on the abdomen, back, or face.
Bruises, like burns, also might have distinctive shapes indicating the weapon
used to inflict them.

Lacerations and abrasions. Children often have scraped knees,
shins, palms, or elbows-predictable injuries. When children have lacerations
and abrasions in soft tissue areas, such as on the abdomen, back, backs of arms
and legs, or external genitalia, it is a strong indicator of physical abuse.
Human bite marks especially when they are recurrent and appear to be adult-sized,
are also strongly indicative of abuse.

Fractures. Unexplained fractures are cause for concern.
A child with multiple fractures is almost certain to be a victim of abuse. Other
signs include swollen or tender limbs and spiral fractures caused by jerking
of the arms.

Children who have been physically abused also are likely to show signs of
childhood stress. Childhood stress can result from any upsetting situation in
the child's environment such as family disruption, death of a pet, or even a
move to a new neighborhood. It can also be a result of child abuse. If a child
abruptly changes his behavior for more that a few days in a manner that you
feel is inappropriate, you might want to ask the child if something is wrong
or if you can help. Do not immediately jump to the conclusion that the child
has been abused.

Emotional Abuse

The indicators of emotional abuse are hard to detect. Some visible signs
are lagging physical development and habit disorders such as thumb sucking or
rocking.

Neglect

As with emotional abuse, the signs of neglect are usually very subtle and
hard to detect. A neglected child might show up at Scout meetings inappropriately
dressed, lacking in personal hygiene, and consistently hungry.

Sexual Abuse

Perhaps the best evidence that a child has been sexually abused is that the
abuse is witnessed--if not by yourself, then by another individual. Another
excellent indication is that the child says that he has been abused. Again,
oftentimes this information may not come from the child himself but from another
source.

Physical evidence of sexual abuse, if present at all, tends to be
temporary. These signs include difficulty in walking; torn, stained, or bloody
underwear; pain or itching in the genital area; bruises of bleeding of the external
genitalia; and sexually transmitted diseases.

The behavioral signs of sexual abuse are likely to be more conspicuous
and present longer. Specific behaviors related to child sexual abuse are an
age-inappropriate understanding of sex; reluctance to be left alone with a particular
person; persistent and inappropriate sex play with peers or toys; prostitution;
wearing lots of clothing, especially to bed; drawings of genitalia; fear of
touch; abuse of animals; masturbation in public; nightmares or night terrors;
apprehension when the subject of sexual abuse is brought up; and cross-dressing.

The presence of any of these behaviors indicates a possibility that sexual
abuse has occurred. They are not, in and of themselves, conclusive evidence
that the child has been abused.

What should I do if I notice any of these signs?

First, you should not jump to any conclusions. The signs of child abuse are
often ambiguous; they can mean something other than child abuse. Consider stating
your observations to the child's parents. For example, you could say, "For the
past two weeks, Johnny has been very disruptive at den meetings. He is very
aggressive with the other boys and uses foul language. This behavior is very
unlike him. I hope that everything is okay." You should not
make any accusations to the parents that the child is being abused. Even if
you file a report with the Scout executive or the authorities because you suspect
child abuse, you should not make accusations or state your suspicions to others
who are not responsible for determining if abuse is occurring.

What should I do if I suspect that a child is being abused?

If you suspect or hear that a child in the Scouting program
is being abused, you must contact your Scout executive. He has already established
contacts with the child protective services and law enforcement agencies in
your area. He will be able to tell you what you should do. He will also tell
you that he must contact the appropriate authorities and report your suspicions
to them. If you suspect that a child who is not a Scout is
being abused, you should contact your local child abuse hot line. Generally
the telephone number to report child abuse is listed in the white pages under
"child abuse."

What if I am not sure that the child is being abused?

The law requires only that you have a reasonable suspicion that a child is
being abused. Once a report has been made, the appropriate agency will investigate
and determine if abuse can be substantiated. Unless you make a report, the child
might remain in grave danger.

How can I tell if a person is a child molester?

Child molesters, individuals who sexually abuse children, do not
fit the common stereotypes that we hold, i.e., strangers, dirty old men, mentally
disabled, etc. There is no test or other screening mechanism that will identify
a child molester prior to committing an offense. Child molesters come from all
walks of like, all social and ethnic groups, and all occupational categories.
Child molesters might have positions of prominence in their communities. The
vast majority of molesters are known by the children they victimize and might
have a position of authority over children, such as a teacher, clergy member,
youth group worker, or police officer.

How can we protect our children from child molesters?

Child molesters often try to gain access to children through legitimate means
such as becoming involved in youth activities. They use this access to identify
children who they perceive to be vulnerable to sexual abuse. To protect our
children, we must establish and maintain open lines of communication so that
they feel free to report any inappropriate or worrisome contact with adults
or older children. We also must educate our children to enable them to understand
what abuse is and that they have the right to resist any offensive contact.

How does the BSA prevent child abuse in Scouting?

The Boy Scouts of America has adopted a number of policies aimed at eliminating
opportunities for abuse within the Scouting program. These policies focus on
leadership selection and on placing barriers to abuse within the program.

Leadership

The Boy Scouts of America takes great pride in the quality of our adult leadership.
Being a leader in the BSA is a privilege, not a right. The quality of the program
and the safety of our youth members call for high-quality adult leaders. We
work closely with our chartered organizations to help recruit the best possible
leaders for their units.

The adult application requests background information that should be checked
by the unit committee of the chartered organization before accepting an applicant
for unit leadership. While no current screening techniques exist that can identify
every potential child molester, we can reduce the risk of accepting a child
molester by learning all we can about an applicant for a leadership position-his
or her experience with children, why he or she wants to be a Scout leader, and
what discipline techniques her or she would use.

Barriers to Abuse Within Scouting

The BSA has adopted the following policies to provide additional security
for our members. These policies are primarily for the protection of our youth
members; however, they also serve to protect our adult leaders from false accusations
of abuse.

Two-deep leadership. Two registered adult leaders or
one registered leader and a parent of a participant, one of whom must be
21 years of age or older, are required on all trips and outings. The chartered
organization is responsible for ensuring that sufficient leadership is provided
for all activities.

No one-on-one contact. One-on-one contact between adults
and youth members is not permitted. In situations that require personal
conferences, such as a Scoutmaster's conference, the meeting is to be conducted
in view of other adults and youths.

Respect of privacy. Adult leaders must respect the
privacy of youth members in situations such as changing clothes and taking
shower at camp, and intrude only to the extent that health and safety require.
Adults must protect their own privacy in similar situations.

Separate accommodations. When camping, no youth is
permitted to sleep in the tent of an adult other than his own parent or
guardian. Councils are strongly encouraged to have separate shower and latrine
facilities for females. When separate facilities are not available, separate
times for male and female use should be scheduled and posted for showers.

Proper preparation for high-adventure activities. Activities
with elements of risk should never be undertaken without proper preparation,
equipment, clothing, supervision, and safety measures.

No secret organizations. The Boy Scouts of America
does not recognize any secret organizations as part of its program. All
aspects of the Scouting program are open to observation by parents and leaders.

Appropriate attire. Proper clothing for activities
is required. For example, skinny-dipping is not appropriate as part of Scouting.

Constructive discipline. Discipline used in Scouting
should be constructive and reflect Scouting's values. Corporal punishment
is never permitted.

Hazing prohibited. Physical hazing and initiations
are prohibited and may not be included as part of any Scouting activity.

Junior leader training and supervision. Adult leaders
must monitor and guide the leadership techniques used by junior leaders
and ensure that BSA policies are followed.

How can parents help protect their children?

Parents participate in the protection of their children in a variety of ways.
We have already mentioned the need for open lines of communication so that children
are encouraged to bring any troubles to their parents for advice and counsel.
In addition, parents need to be involved in their sons' Scouting activities.
All parents receive important information concerning the Scouting program as
part of their son's membership applications. This information is provided so
that parents can detect any deviations from the BSA's approved program. If any
deviations are noted, parents should call these to the attention of the chartered
organization of the unit committee. If the problems persist, parents should
contact the local council for assistance.

Parents also need to review the booklet, How to Protect Your Children
from Child Abuse and Drug Abuse: A Parent's Guide, inserted in every Boy
Scout and Cub Scout handbook. The information in this booklet should be the
subject of discussions between Scouts and their parents prior to joining a troop
or receiving the Bobcat badge.

Why do most child victims of sexual abuse keep the abuse secret?

A victim of child sexual abuse is under a great deal of pressure to keep
the abuse secret. In many cases of child molestation, the molester has threatened
to harm the child or a member of the child's family. The molester might have
told the child that he would not be believe even if the child did tell. Another
common situation is that the molester will tell the child that if the child
tells about the abuse, he will get into trouble. The clear message is given
to the child that if another person finds out, something bad will happen to
the child. This pressure to maintain silence can often be successfully overcome
by establishing open communication between children and adults through a proper
educational program for children.

What should I do if a child tells me that he has been sexually abused?

How an adult responds to a child when he tries to disclose abuse can influence
the outcome of the child's victimization. By maintaining an apparent calm, the
adult can help reassure the child that every thing is going to be okay. By not
criticizing the child, we counteract any statements the molester made to the
victim about the child getting into trouble.

Reassure the child that you are concerned about what happened to him and
that you would like to get him some help. Allegations by a Scout concerning
abuse in the program must be reported to the Scout executive. Since these reports
are required, the child should be told that you have to tell the proper authorities
but that you will not tell anyone else. It is important that you not tell anyone
other then the Scout executive or the child protective services agency about
allegations of abuse-if the allegations cannot be substantiated, you could be
sued for defamation of character.

How do I know what my reporting responsibilities are?

Every state, the District of Columbia, and the U.S. territories have different
reporting requirements. As part of BSA Youth Protection training, you will receive
reporting instructions for your area and for your council. People are often
concerned about being sued for reporting child abuse. You are not required to
know for certain that a child has been abused. All that the law requires is
that you have a reasonable suspicion and are reporting in "good faith." When
these requirements are met, all states provide immunity from liability for child
abuse reporters.

What educational materials does the BSA have for youth members?

The BSA produced separate age-appropriate videos for Cub Scout-age and Boy
Scout-age boys to address the problems of sexual abuse. The video for Cub Scouts,
It Happened to Me, should be used annually by packs or dens, but
only for Cub Scouts accompanied by a parent of other adult
family member. The video for Boy Scouts, A Time to Tell, introduces
the "three Rs" of Youth Protection, and should be viewed by troops annually.

How can Scout leaders who are not social workers teach children about youth
protection?

The BSA recognizes that many of our leaders feel unprepared to talk to children
about preventing sexual abuse. For this reason, the BSA has meeting guides for
both of the videos produced to be viewed by youths. The guides address everything
from scheduling the meeting, contacting the police or social services for assistance,
and notifying parents (a sample letter is provided), to questions and answers
for discussion after the video has been viewed.

What are the "three Rs" of Youth Protection?

The "three Rs" of Youth Protection convey a simple message that the BSA wants
its youth members to learn:

Recognize situations that place him at risk of being
molested, how child molesters operate, and that anyone could be a molester.

Resist unwanted and inappropriate attention. Resistance
will stop most attempts at molestation.

Report attempted or actual molestation to a parent
or other trusted adult. This prevents further abuse of himself and helps
to protect other children. Let the Scout know he will not be blamed for
what occurred.

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